Saturday Walk - Thames Head, Bathurst Estate, Cirencester Park (with Horse Trials) and Cirencester: Kemble Circular with 4 different lengths

Walk recently fully revised. Several options added. All but the Ultra Short Walk now lead through Cirencester Park and Town. For Medium, Short and Ultra Short Walks see the webpage or the pdf. 

Main Walk: 

Length: 27.8 km/17.3 mi 

Ascent/Descent: 208m 

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours  

Toughness: 5 out of 10 

 

Take the 09.28 Cheltenham Spa train from Paddington (09.53 Reading), arriving Kemble at 10.39. 

Return trains: xx.49 to 20.49, then 21.52 and 22.15. 

Splitting the ticket is the cheapest option if travelling on a Network Railcard (buy separate London – Didcot Parkway [with Network RC discount] and Didcot - Kemble [without a discount] returns).

 

This Gloucestershire walk at the southern edge of the Cotswolds AONB explores the springs and wells forming the source of the River Thames and a longer stretch of the upper river, as well as some of the woods of the large Bathurst Estate and Cirencester Park and Town, the ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’.

 

After passing an assortment of springs and wells that constitute the start of the Thames and an Iron Age hillfort site right by the highest of the springs, you follow the disused Thames & Severn Canal to the Sapperton Canal Tunnel, before rising through Hailey Wood up to the watershed to the Severn Catchment Area and to Sapperton village, on the edge of the Golden Valley and with a splendid old church. 

Climb over the highest point of the walk and enter the magnificent Cirencester Park, one of the greatest privately owned parks of the 18^th century, with its splendid vistas, romantic follies, statues and woods. On into Cirencester for tea (or lunch on the short options of the route), once one of the most substantial cities of Roman-era Britain, now a bustling market town and considered the Capital of the Cotswolds, with its many independent shops, beautiful Georgian and Victorian buildings, alleyways and courtyards as well as some Roman ruins, most interestingly the Amphitheatre (at the time the second largest in Britain and now one of the best preserved). 

The short return to Kemble leads through quiet fields, along woods and through the picturesque village of Ewen, before another stretch along the Upper Thames.Three principle shorter versions are described and buses add additional options to cut bits of the route. See the webpage or the pdf for details.

 

Notes: The Upper Thames is a winterbourne river, only fed from aquifers and without tributaries in the area walked. In long dry periods it can be completely dry. Cirencester Park is open to the walking public daily 08.00-17.00 (sharp!), but today should be open to 18.00 due to the Cirencester Park Horse Trials.

 

Lunch:  The Bell at Sapperton. (food to 16.00, 9.1 km (5.7 mi) into the main walk, booking recommended at weekends!).  

On the Medium and Short Walks, all Cirencester Tea Stops become Lunch Stops, from 13.1 km and 10.2 km into the walk respectively.

Tea: Hot drinks and snacks in Cirencester Park, plus plenty of options in Cirencester, for details check the pdf. 

The Tavern Inn in Kemble. Located just past the station. An Arkell’s of Swindon pub. 

 

For route map, gpx/kml file, photos and pdf directions click here. T=swc.256

Wendover Circular Walk

Book 2; Walk 1: Wendover Circular via Coombe Hill

 Standard walk: 18.5km (11.5 miles)

For shorter options see walk instructions

 Difficulty: 6 out of 10

 Train: Take the 9:27 am Aylesbury-bound Chilterns Railway train from London Marylebone, arriving at Wendover at 10:15. Return trains are at 28 and 58 past the hour until 19:28 when they become hourly.

 Buy a day return to Wendover.

 "This energetic walk serves as a fine introduction to the Chiltern Hills, first passing through woodland, then descending into hidden vales and fields before emerging out onto the Chiltern escarpment above Princes Risborough at a spot that commands panoramic views of the countryside below.  Find the walk instructions on the L=2.1 page

 The recommended lunch pub is the Red Lion in Whiteleafe 01844 344476, about 6 miles/10 km into the walk. Plenty of tea or stronger stuff back in Wendover.

 Sunset is around 18.21

 

 

Evening Walk - Wild Daffodils, Wood Anenomes and Crocuses: Lesnes Abbey Wood from the Abbey Wood Crossrail Terminus

Length: 5.2 km/3.2 mi

Ascent/Descent: 127m

Net Walking Time: ca. 1 ½ hours

Toughness: 1 out of 10 

 

Meet outside Abbey Wood Station at 18.20. For that, take...

Either Crossrail (Paddington 17.50, (...), L'pool Street 18.01, (...), Canary Wharf 18.08.  

Or the 17.48 Thameslink train to Rainham (Kent) from London Bridge (originates from Luton, calling Deptford 17.55, Greenwich for DLR 17.57, Woolwich Arsenal for DLR 18.10). 

Abbey Wood is in Zone 4.

Return trains: frequent (Mainline and Crossrail).

 

This is an undulating route on the boundary of the Boroughs of Bexley (Lesnes Abbey Woods) and Greenwich (Bostall Woods) in South East London, based upon the atmospheric ruins of Lesnes Abbey, surrounded by a beautiful park with some ornamental gardens and towered over by ancient and secondary woodland, with a high extent of sessile oaks, some large wildflower meadows with bluebells and native wild daffodils in spring and several scenic ponds. A heathland with an Iron Age tumulus and some acid grasslands are passed through as well.

 

Refreshments at the end of the walk: Abbey Arms (right by the station, with a large garden at the back). 

 

For walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.43

Wednesday walk - Yalding to Borough Green

Length 16.8km (10.4 miles)

Toughness 3 out of 10

Trains: Take the 10.01 Dover Priory train from Charing Cross, 10.04 Waterloo East, 10.09 London Bridge changing at Paddock Wood (10.48) to catch the 11.00 Strood train, arriving Yalding 11.07. 

Return trains from Borough Green and Wrotham: xx:29 to London Bridge and Charing Cross, xx:45 to London Victoria 

Buy a day return to Yalding.

This is an easy walk through the woods and fields of the Kent countryside, without too much in the way of hills. The walk starts beside the River Medway, follows the Greensand Way to Roydon Hall and then heads gently uphill to East Peckham and St Michaels Church. The route now takes you to the village of Mereworth, Mereworth Woods, the village of Crouch, then through woodland to Basted and on to Borough Green.

Lunch: For a pub lunch, there are two possibilities each requiring a diversion from the original walk route: 

The Swan on the Green, West Peckham (tel 01622 812 271), some 6.8 km into the walk

The MoodyMare, Mereworth (tel 01622 813 038), some 7.1 km into the walk

Picnickers might find benches at the church in Mereworth or near the pubs if they choose to follow either of those routes.

Tea: Melias Place coffee shop in Borough Green or other options mentioned in the walk directions.

L=1.50

Sunday Walk: Shiplake to Henley

Difficulty 4 out of 10.  17.7km (11.1 miles), or 13.7km (8.5 miles). Riverside, woods, views and a bit of history thrown in. The full walk passes a National Trust property,  Greys Court, which is old. The shorter walk returns via a pleasant valley.
Trains:  Get the Reading-bound Elizabeth line (Paddington 09:41, Ealing Broadway 9:49) and change at Twyford for the 10:45 to Henley (platform 5) arriving Shiplake 10:52
Return from Henley at xx:00 and xx:30 changing at Twyford again
Get a return to Henley on Thames. (Freedom passers can travel free on the Elizabeth line and would only need a Twyford to Henley return).
Lunch Two possibilities  Earliest - maybe a little too earliest, but, if you include its adjoining barn, more roomier - is the Bottle & Glass in Binfield Heath (tel  01491 412625). 
 4km further, in Rotherfield Greys,the Maltsters Arms (tel 01491 629974) has reopened since the walk notes were last updated. The church there is home to the  remarkable Knollys tomb, a relic from Tudor times. 

Tea   
An SWC favourite, the Chocolate Café (tel  01491 411 412) on Thameside (Henley’s waterfront) open weekends to 5pm. The station is 5 minutes away.
Henley has more than its fair share of pubs for those in need of something stronger. The Angel is nearest the café. There’s also a Spoons on the High Street.
Directions here 
It doesn’t look likely, given recent weather, but, if the first stretch along the river is flooded, there is an alternative start  through High Wood, rejoining the main walk at Binfield Heath by the Bottle & Glass.It’s 3km shorter than the main start.

From Rotherfield Greys you can decide whether to complete the full walk passing Greys Court or take a shorter route into Henley. T=1.9

Seaford Circular

SWC Walk 314: Seaford Circular t=swc.314

Distance:  15.6 Miles or 25 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty:  7 out of 10

Train:  9:46 AM Bexhill-bound train from London Victoria (stopping at CJ 9:53 and EC at 10:02), changing at Lewes (arr/dep 10:52/11:05) to arrive at Seaford at 11:24. Return trains are at 29 and 59 past the hour. Buy a day return to Seaford.

Another special request for this recently updated and slightly modified route that explores territory through the South Downs not frequented on other walks. It also passes by the large Rathfinny vineyard – featuring some very tasty sparkling….The walk can be done either clockwise or anticlockwise. As it is somewhat “instruction-lite”, it would be best done with the aid of a map/GPX route…More information and some basic instructions and GPX route can be found here.

The recommended lunch stop is Alfriston where there a variety of pubs and other shops (with the George Inn being the usual favorite) – so hopefully food will be available notwithstanding being Mother’s Day!  Seaford also has a range of options for post walk refreshies (including a lovely pub on the station platform) and possible fish and chips on the seafront…

Enjoy the walk!

Denham to Amersham - note change of start - The Grand Union Canal and Misbourne Valley

Length: 13.9 miles T=SWC.36

10.10 Chilterns train from Marylebone to Denham (Chilterns strike day service), arriving 10.30

The only part of the journey which is not within boundary zone six is the one stop from West Ruislip to Denham on the outbound journey. 

A GPX of my suggested route is here and a map here. 

This is an improvised route which I have created to cope with the rail strike. Note that I have changed the starting point (originally Uxbridge) since I have discovered that Chilterns are running a strike day service to Denham, allowing us a shorter start and less of a race to get to lunch....

You could just follow the South Bucks Way all the way from Denham to Old Amersham, which would be a mile or two shorter than my suggested route, but its route through Denham is a bit dull so I have created a longer loop that takes in a nice stretch of the Grand Union Canal. This then returns to the South Bucks Way and follows it to Chalfont St Peter and Chalfont St Giles. After this my suggestion is to reverse the morning of the Amersham Circular walk - again, slightly longer, but perhaps more interesting than the South Bucks route. 

The first option for lunch is Chalfont St Peter, after 6.6 miles. I am hopeful about the Greyhound Inn here - its website was not working at time of writing, but it had very recent updates to its Facebook page. The other pub in the town - the White Hart - seems to be drinks only. There is a Co-op and takeaways in its high street. 

Failing that, in another two miles (so after 8.6 miles) you come to Chalfont St Giles, the lunch village for the Beaconsfield Circular and Amersham Circular walks. Merlin's Cave here seems to have reopened and to do food all afternoon. Last year walkers also lunched at the Feathers. 

At the end of the walk (13.4 miles) Old Amersham has tea places and pubs. 

Metropolitan line trains back from Amersham are at 22 and 52 past. The Chilterns services at 11 and 41 past will not run due to the RMT strike

Saturday Walk - Quiet Chalky Uplands of North West Essex - Wendens Ambo (Audley End station) Circular (Long or Short)

Length: 23.7 km (14.7 mi) or 17.5 km/10.9 mi 

Ascent/Descent: 258m  (full walk) 

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ¼ hours (full walk) 

Toughness: 4 out of 10 or 3 out of 10 

A slightly longer, more westerly route (25.7 km/16.0 mi) takes you over Essex’ highest point itself. 

 

Take the 09.28 Cambridge train from Liverpool Street (Tottenham Hale [Victoria Line] 09.40), arriving Audley End at 10.30. Return trains: at xx.19 and xx.40 (to 21.40 last). Buy an Audley End return. 

 

This is a relaxing walk in the quiet chalky uplands of north-west Essex, on the borders of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, very much off the beaten track, and with gently rolling hills, plenty of woods and copses as well as some pretty villages. Right from the start the walk takes you past picturesque thatched cottages with ample examples of pargeting, a decorative medieval plastering technique, and on through some farmland to the early lunch stop in Arkesden, one of the prettiest villages in Essex with one of the best pubs and loveliest churches.

The route then gently ascends to Chrishall, the dedicated lunch stop on the full walk, along field boundaries and green lanes. Chrishall village is close to Essex’ highest point and the approach offers fine views into the Hertfordshire plain and back down the wide ‘winding valley’ that gives Wendens Ambo its name. After lunch you follow the Icknield Way to Elmdon, with views north out across the Cambridgeshire plain to Cambridge, then alongside a high hedge with views off to your right into the winding valley back to Wendens Ambo.

Lunch: The Axe & Compasses in Arkesden (4.9 km/3.0 mi) was destroyed by fire about a year ago, and there is no sign of it being back in business. So, there is only The Red Cow in Chrishall (13.1 km/8.2 mi, food to 14.30). 

Tea: The Bell Inn, 10 minutes from the station. 

 

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.116

Eynsford Circular

t=SWC.59

Length: 21.5 km (13.4m) - various shortcuts are available
Toughness: 7 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:47 train from London Victoria arriving in Eynsford at 10:41. Return trains at xx:35 with last train at 17:35 !!

The walk starts along a country lane through the secluded Austin Lodge valley, climbing to the isolated settlement of Romney Street. It continues on an undulating section to a ridge with fine views of the Darent valley, from where you descend into Otford, passing its scale model of the Solar System. The village has many interesting old buildings and the full route takes you past the ruins of Otford Palace, a rival to Hampton Court in Tudor times.
There are two possible routes back to Eynsford. The longer takes a similarly undulating route along the western side of the Darent valley, weaving in and out of the Otford to Eynsford walk (1–23) on its way to Lullingstone Park, an attractive landscape of chalk grassland and ancient woodland with an internationally important collection of veteran trees. This route also goes past Eagle Heights, one of the UK's largest Bird of Prey centres; admission (2022) is £12.95 but you might be able to see something of the afternoon flying display from the public footpath.
The shorter return route mostly follows the Darent Valley Path, passing The Mount Vineyard in the attractive Kent village of Shoreham and extensive lavender fields at Castle Farm. An attractive riverside stretch then leads to Lullingstone Castle (01322-862114), a historic manor house which can be visited (but with limited opening hours). Its grounds contain an unusual parish church (open to the public at all times) and a World Garden with plants from around the globe, open Thu–Sun from April to October; admission (2022) is £9.

Evening Walk: Sculpture in City 2022 (reprise) – Last Chance!

Evening Walk: Sculpture in City 2022 (reprise) – Last Chance! t=short.24

Distance:          Approximately 2 miles or 2.9 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty:        1 out of 10

Meet:               Liverpool Street Station – just outside the Liverpool Street exit near the Kindertransport Memorial

Time:               18:45 – but if you miss our departure, you can certainly catch us up along the way…

This is for anyone who missed the 2022 Sculpture in the City walk last summer, wants to see it again or is interested in exploring the works of art in the dark! The 2022 installation of 24 works of art by 19 artists will remain on display until early April 2023 – so time is running out!

Post walk refreshments can be had at one of the many watering holes in Leadenhall Market.

More information about the route can be found here.

Enjoy the walk!

Haywards Heath to Balcombe via the Ouse valley (with possible detour to Ardingly)

Length 10.4 km (6.5 miles), 3/10

Another early posting to get ahead of the game - I will be away in between times but should be back for this walk. I've wanted to try this walk since someone requested it a while ago: it is very short but the walk author makes an eloquent case for it here. Besides, as the next day is a strike day it might be as well to finish early. Note that there is no lunch pub on the main route but I have made a number of suggestions to deal with this issue.

Travel: 1005 from London Bridge (East Croydon 1019) arriving 1051 OR 0959 from Victoria arriving 1041 - if you get this please wait for those travelling from London Bridge. Returns from Balcombe at 25 and 55. Get a return to Haywards Heath.

Lunch: There is no lunch pub on the route itself, but if you don't wish to bring a picnic you could:

1. Divert off the route to Ardingly following walk 174. I'm not sure if the Ardingly Inn will be open but the Ardingly Café (01444-891113; open to 3pm) provided an excellent lunch on my last visit and there is a village bakery. Retracing your steps will add 3.5 miles to the walk but it will still only be a 9.5 mile/15km walk.

2. Instead of returning to the route, after Ardingly you could just use the walk 174 directions to go all the way to Balcombe, giving a walk of 10 miles/16 km. This route also has an 8 mile/13km option (174b) to skip Ardingly and have lunch in Little London.

3. Walk the whole 10 km in the morning and have lunch in Balcombe at the Half Moon Inn (01444-811582), a community-owned pub or the Balcombe Tea Rooms (01444-811777; open Wed–Sun to 3pm)

Tea: see Balcombe options above.

For walk directions, map and GPX click here

T=swc.198

 

By the way . . . I'm going to be away for my two May slots (10th and 24th) so any requests and suggestions for those dates would be particularly welcome - please post under Walk Requests here

Sunday Walk – Arundel Circular, via South Stoke

Extra Walk 100b – Arundel Circular, via South Stoke

Length: 14¾ km (9.2 miles, toughness 3/10), or 12¼ km (7.6 miles, 2/10) if bypassing Arundel Park at the end.

09:35 Portsmouth Harbour train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 09:42, East Croydon 09:56), arriving Arundel at 11:02.

Trains back are hourly at xx:54.

The meadows in the Arun valley are sometimes flooded in winter but two recent expeditions haven't reported any problems, so I'll take the risk of posting this Short Circular Walk from Arundel. The outward leg alternates between riverside paths and low hills on the eastern side of the valley as far as South Stoke, with its distinctive little church. This variation crosses the river here and returns through water meadows, then skirts around the Arundel Wetland Centre. There's a choice of routes into Arundel: a gentle climb through Arundel Park or a level stroll along Mill Lane.

You could stop for an early drink or pub lunch at The George at Burpham, but if you can hold out for another hour I suggest pressing on to the Black Rabbit in its enviable riverside setting at Offham. At both places you might be able to eat outside without booking, but you'd certainly need to call ahead if you want a table inside. If they each decline your custom it's not much further into Arundel, which has plenty of possible lunch and tea places. It's a ten-minute walk from the town to the station.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.100.b

Sunday walk - Chesham to Great Missenden

Length: 15.5km (9.6 miles), short circular version 9.5km (5.9 miles)

Difficulty: 3 out of 10

This walk makes for an easy day out from London. It starts in Chesham, which is soon leftbehind for sloping fields, woods and hamlets. The route follows the Chilterns Link, but diverts at Herbert’s Hole to take a higher southerly path. It then picks up the Chilterns Link again through to Ballinger Bottom and Lee Common and to lunch in the charming village called The Lee. From lunch the walk continues on a gently undulating course before a gentle climb through woods up to Frith Hill and down a steep descent into Great Missenden. Trains: Take the 9.45 Metropolitan line from Baker Street to Chesham arriving 10.46. A Freedom pass or zone 1- 9  travelcard will cover the outward journey. You will need to buy a single from Great Missenden to Amersham on the return journey. Return trains from Great Missenden xx.04 and xx.34. Lunch: The usual lunchtime stop is the Cock and Rabbit Inn, The Lee, 8 km from the start of the walk. However, they are currently under new management and serving drinks only until Easter. The Green, in front of the pub, is a possible picnic spot.  Those wanting a pub lunch could carry on for approximately 1 km and make a short diversion to The Old Swan Pub at Swan Bottom, HP16 9NU.  You should be able to plot a route using a map app or GPS,  On leaving the pub, retrace your steps back to the walk route. Tea: The Cross Keys pub or Cafe Twit are possibilities in Great Missenden. Directions, map and GPS here T=2.4